Learn about the key analysis a business analyst performs when beginning a project to change how a company bills customers. Discover the matrix tool used to map out stakeholder roles, influence, and impact.
Table of Contents
Question
A business analyst (BA) is working on a project to revise the way a company bills its customers. At the onset of the project, the BA creates the following matrix:
A. Business capability analysis
B. Stakeholder analysis
C. Strategy analysis
D. Root cause analysis
Answer
B. Stakeholder analysis
Explanation
At the beginning of a project to revise a company’s customer billing process, one of the first things a business analyst should do is conduct a stakeholder analysis. A stakeholder analysis helps identify all the key individuals, groups, and organizations that have an interest in or influence over the project.
The main tool used in stakeholder analysis is a stakeholder matrix (sometimes called a power/interest grid or map). The matrix categorizes stakeholders based on their level of interest in the project and their power/influence over it. Typically the two axes of the matrix are:
- Power/Influence (low to high)
- Interest (low to high)
This creates four quadrants:
- High power, highly interested stakeholders that the project must fully engage
- High power, less interested stakeholders to keep satisfied
- Low power, highly interested stakeholders to keep informed
- Low power, less interested stakeholders to monitor with minimal effort
Conducting a stakeholder analysis and mapping out the stakeholder matrix helps the BA determine the stakeholders’ needs, expectations, and potential impact on project success. It allows the BA to plan how to engage and communicate with different stakeholder groups throughout the project.
The other options are incorrect:
A) Business capability analysis looks at the capabilities a business needs to execute its strategy.
C) Strategy analysis examines strategic business objectives.
D) Root cause analysis identifies the underlying causes of a problem.
While these may come into play later, stakeholder analysis is the key starting point for a BA when beginning a project to change a critical business process like customer billing.
IIBA CCBA certification exam assessment practice question and answer (Q&A) dump including multiple choice questions (MCQ) and objective type questions, with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the IIBA CCBA exam and earn IIBA CCBA certification.